A good gesture.

[DHTiling]

Posted on the sparky forum.. thought i would share this with you lot..

I got this e-mail today and i thought i';d share it with you all.


Airline Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage
compartment and sat down in my
assigned seat.
It was going to be a long flight from Gatwick.
'I'm glad I have a good book to read
Perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters
came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats,
totally surrounding me.
I decided to start a conversation.
'Where are you blokes headed?' I asked the
Young man seated nearest to me.

Cyprus. We'll be there for two weeks
for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.
After flying for about an hour,
an announcement was made that
lunches were available for five pounds.
It would be several
hours before we reached Cyprus,
and I quickly decided a lunch would
help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet,
I overheard a soldier ask his mate if
he planned to buy lunch.
'No, that seems like a lot of money for
just an airline lunch.
Probably wouldn't be worth five Quid.
I'll wait till we get to Cyprus.
His mate agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.
None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane
and handed the flight attendant a
fifty Pound note.
'Take a lunch to all those soldiers..'
She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.
Her eyes wet with tears,
she thanked me.
'My young bloke was a soldier in Iraq,
it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten lunchboxes,
she headed up the aisle to where the
boys were seated.
She stopped at my seat and asked,
'Which do you
like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering
why she asked..

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute
later with a dinner plate from first class.
This is your thanks.

After we finished eating,
I went again to the back of the plane,
heading for the rest room.
An old bloke stopped me.
'I saw what you did.
I want to be part of it.
Here, take this.'
He handed me twenty-five
Pounds..
Soon after I returned to my seat,
I saw the Captain coming
down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers
only on my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled,
held out his hand, and said,
'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.
With a booming voice he said, 'I was an army pilot a long time back.
Once someone bought me lunch.
It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'
I was embarrassed when applause
was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane
so I could stretch my legs.
A kid who looked about 18 was sitting about
six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.
He left another twenty-five Pounds
In my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart.
Waiting just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put
something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.
Another twenty-five Pounds!

Upon entering the terminal,
I saw the soldiers gathering for their
trip up to their training area..
I walked over to them and handed
them seventy-five Pounds.
'It will take you some time to
reach your training area. It will be
about time for a sandwich.
God Bless You Blokes.'

Ten young blokes left that flight feeling
the love and respect of their fellow Brits.
As I walked briskly to my car,
I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were
giving their all for our country.
I could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...

A British Serviceman is someone who,
at one point in his life, wrote a blank
cheque made payable to
'United Kingdom'
for an amount of
'up to and including my life.'

 

[mikethetile]

thanks for posting that dave

 

[user123]

Lump in the throat stuff...

 

[poynton phil]

Good reading there dave

 

[hillhead]

superb read,
i bought two men and myself a meal last saturday in Scotland! feels good when people don't expect it.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

thats the spirit, we should all have IMO

 

[united]

Makes you proud when you read that

 

[White Room]

Thats a great bit of writing, would you, I know I would have done

 

[suave]

 

[jamie B]

my god son was killed last september by friendly fire (american ordinance) he served in the royal anglicans. his parents had to suffer the horror of having little to no remains for a burial..I'm a true believer that our boys need every bit of moral and financial help they can get. God bless and protect them all.

 

[White Room]

Sorry mate, Royal Anglians

 

[jamie B]

no probs..typo.my bad!..should've listened more at school...

 

[Alan.P]

Great to see that some people still know how to look after the lads in uniform, great gesture from 1 person led to another great gesture and so on, £50 for 10 meals, a lot for some but a small amount considering what the guys and girls are laying on the line for us...........everything. Why oh why isn't it a standard practice that serving personnel get 'free' meals if flying / sailing or otherwise going to active service ?

Well played all on that flight that dipped into their pockets :hurray: :8:

 

[Sean Page]

fantastic to know there are genuine people out there still, good luck to all our boys & girls... and yes, lump in the throat stuff

 

[doug boardley]

very humbing post

 

[garretridge]

nice story we owe them all so much for are freedom bring them home!

 

[Hawkofeagles]

Great post Dave, thanks

 

[trevortine]

Had a farewell drink last weekend with some muckers of mine who are now back in afgan for a spell, hope they stay safe.

 

[CJ]

Very nice read.

Hope they all stay safe

 

[strummerman]

good post bruv makes you proud to be british

 

[d noulton]

visit help for heros website van stickers bangles badges etc available or just donate

 

[diamondtiling]

Excellent thread Dave and lots of great replies. I was at the rugby last week and the bar was full after the match, we heard about 3 lads that were having a few beers in the club before going back to Afganistan in a few days, within minutes one of the older guys had a pint pot going around so that these fellas would not have to pay, £150 odd quid was put in within 5 minutes or so, we wanted them to feel the pride we have for them. They were very gracious and took the cash. Great lads and very brave in my opinion but so young.

Keep them safe.

 

[david campbell]

got a mate in the services at the moment would like to think people would go out there way for him also!
people do forget what they are sacrificing for the rest of the country!

 

[Fekin]

Good post Dave